The Imperial Guard’s Revenge
Chapter 134 Reading Companion
Children grow up so fast. In the blink of an eye, two years had passed, and Lu Xuan was already running around everywhere. The various palaces all paid close attention to Lu Xuan. If they could have Lu Xuan as a reading companion, it would basically mean securing Lu Heng’s support and a decisive advantage in the struggle for the throne.
Previously, Lu Heng always used the excuse that Lu Xuan was still too young to delay the matter. But now that Lu Xuan was growing up, the matter of selecting a reading companion could no longer be postponed.
On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, a banquet was held in the palace. Since the festival was associated with expelling the Five Poisons, the emperor held a ritual in the palace. He had the Daoist priest, Tao Zhongwen, perform ceremonies to cleanse the princes and princesses of illness and evil. And to show his imperial favor, the emperor also ordered his close officials to bring their children to the palace to receive the blessings alongside the royal children.
The emperor specifically mentioned Lu Heng, so on the day of the festival, Wang Yanqing had no choice but to carry Lu Xuan into the palace.
The altar was already set up. The Daoist priests were burning incense and performing rituals, busily chanting and conducting ceremonies for a long time. Fortunately, their rites did not require the children, so Wang Yanqing, the palace concubines, and their children waited in the Western Palace. After a while, a eunuch brough a message that the ritual was complete, and the Empress and the other noble ladies were to proceed to Qin’an Hall.
The group of women, each accompanied by attendants, floated slowly toward Qin’an Hall like a colorful cloud. Inside Qin’an Hall, Daoist priests stood on both sides, the emperor sat at the highest seat, and Lu Heng stood nearby with a sword at his waist.
Ever since the Renyin Palace Rebellion, the emperor had become extremely sensitive about security. Lu Heng was probably the only one allowed to wear a sword in the emperor’s presence. Empress Fang led the imperial concubines, princes, and princesses in front of the emperor and performed a graceful bow: “My sincerest greetings. Long live the emperor.”
The princes and princesses, though still young, had been instructed thoroughly by their mothers. Now, bowing to the emperor, they each performed their greetings steadily and properly. Only Lu Xuan, who was merely three years old by the lunar calendar, was the youngest among them. His two little hands seemed unable to reach anything, and his body wobbled unsteadily as he bowed.
Lu Heng frowned and gave a low reprimand: “Lu Xuan, mind your manners.”
“It’s fine.” The emperor said gently, waving his hand to signal everyone to rise, “In such a casual setting, there’s no need to be too strict with the children. Everyone, please rise. Daoist Master of Divinity and Protection, you may begin.”
Tao Zhongwen bowed, took out a yellow talisman, muttered incantations, and formed hand seals. He ignited the talisman and held it over a golden basin filled with water. The yellow talisman was quickly engulfed by flames, transforming into a bright light, and bits of ash gradually drifted into the water.
After the talisman burned out, Tao Zhongwen chanted a few more spells, then turned to the emperor and bowed: “Emperor, the water is ready. Please have the princes and princesses wash their hands in the basin one by one. Afterward, I will affix the protective talismans I have drawn, ensuring that they will be free from illness, disaster, and immune to all poisons for the coming year.”
Upon hearing that they were just washing their hands in the basin, Wang Yanqing let out a huge sigh of relief. As soon as Senior Concubine Wang heard this, without waiting for the Empress to speak, she quickly signaled the Second Prince to step forward and lead the younger children in washing their hands.
No. In accepting the sacred cleansing by the Daoist Master of divinity and protection.
The Second Prince was five years old this year. In ordinary families, he would still be considered a young child, but in the palace, he was already showing signs of maturity. The Second Prince took the initiative to step forward, greeting the emperor and Tao Zhongwen, then confidently walked to the basin to wash his hands, fully displaying the manner of an elder brother.
With the Second Prince setting the example, the Third and Fourth Princes stepped forward one after another. In the sixteenth year of Jiajing, three princes were born in the palace, but none had survived to adulthood. This year, one concubine was still pregnant, so only these three princes were present to receive the cleansing ritual.
Counting the late Crown Prince Aichong, the emperor had already lost four sons, all of whom had died shortly after birth. No wonder the emperor placed such great importance on the Dragon Boat Festival and was so earnest about dispelling illness for the children.
After the princes, it was the princesses’ turn. Currently, there were two princesses in the palace, Eldest Princess Zhu Shouying and Second Princess Zhu Fuyuan. Zhu Shouying was a month older than the Second Prince, yet she completely lacked the Second Prince’s confidence and composure. When she stepped forward, she appeared timid and uneasy. After washing her hands, she didn’t even dare look at the emperor and quickly bowed before retreating.
After the princes and princesses, it was time for the children of the official families. This group was a bit more delicate as the children weren’t lined up by age but by the rank of their fathers. Lu Xuan, though the youngest among them, was placed at the front, leading a group of much older children in a rather comical sight. Fortunately, Lu Xuan wasn’t shy at all. Like his father, he was bold and adventurous. He even turned around and reminded the others: “Follow me and don’t mess around!”
Lu Heng narrowed his eyes, looking like he was about to scold him again, but the emperor laughed and said: “At such a young age, Lu Xuan already shows the spirit of a great general, truly a promising talent.”
Lu Heng replied: “The emperor flatters him. Lu Xuan, quickly step forward and offer your respects.”
Lu Xuan stretched his tiny arms as straight as he could and, in a childish voice, said to the emperor: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The concubines in the back exchanged glances quietly without saying a word. The emperor barely exchanged a few words with his own sons, yet he praised Lu Xuan so warmly. Even Lu Xuan’s name was personally gifted by the emperor. With Lu Heng constantly at the emperor’s side, and now even his son receiving such favor, who didn’t feel envious at the Lu family’s flourishing favor?
After a round of bustling about washing all the children’s hands, the Dragon Boat Festival cleansing finally came to an end. Whether it was the concubines, palace maids, or eunuchs, everyone subtly let out a sigh of relief. Children were the hardest to control and they all worried that some child would accidentally offend the emperor, but fortunately, everything had gone smoothly.
Qin’an Hall was dedicated to religious ceremonies. In front of the three-story building was a small garden, which connected to the imperial garden beyond. Now, in the fifth month, the grass and trees were lush, and the flowers were in full bloom. With all the children gathered together, it didn’t take long before chaos broke out.
No one knew which prince started chasing butterflies, but soon the rest of the children were drawn in. A swarm of eunuchs and maids chased after them, calling out urgently, and the scene quickly became a noisy commotion. When Senior Concubine Wang saw that the Second Prince had joined the crowd, her face darkened and she scolded sternly: “He’er, you are the eldest brother. How can you be leading your younger siblings in such unruly behavior? Come back immediately.”
The emperor, however, rarely saw such lively scenes and said with a smile: “Children love to play, it’s only natural. Don’t restrain them too much. Let them run around, it’s good for their health.”
Upon hearing this, Senior Concubine Wang quickly bowed her head and curtsied: “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Wang Yanqing also gazed toward the garden with some worry. Lu Xuan had joined the chase after the butterflies too. Despite being the youngest, he insisted on acting as the leader, bossing others around to help him block this way and that. Since this was within the palace and a group of attendants followed closely, Wang Yanqing wasn’t too worried about Lu Xuan’s safety. But his behavior was far too showy.
At home, his running and jumping naturally brought joy to his parents. But here, in the palace, she couldn’t help but wish her son were a little quieter, and a little more timid.
Not all the children ran off chasing butterflies, more of them stayed close to their mothers, staring longingly at those who were playing.
At moments like this, it was obvious who was favored and who was not. It was as if there were an invisible boundary in the garden. On one side were the favored children, lively, confident, laughing and running freely, always surrounded by people, on the other side were the less favored children, standing alone, looking timid and withdrawn.
Seated high above, the emperor had a clear view of the entire scene, and he saw the division sharply. He noticed the Eldest Princess, Zhu Shouying, standing hesitantly. Imperial Concubine Shen Xi bent over, encouraging her to go play with her brothers and sisters, but Zhu Shouying only kept shaking her head.
The emperor saw the shyness in the princess’s round, charming eyes, eyes that closely resembled her mother’s, and how she cautiously observed the expressions of the adults around her when she thought no one was looking. It felt as if something had stabbed deeply into the emperor’s heart.
Concubine Shen Xi had risen to favor by raising the Eldest Princess and was now titled Imperial Concubine Shen Xi. Even after gaining favor, she hadn’t rushed to bear her own children but instead remained wholeheartedly devoted to caring for the Eldest Princess. But in the harem, there were no secrets.
The Eldest Princess long overheard the palace servants whisper that her biological mother was Imperial Concubine Cao Duan, who had been executed by dismemberment for allegedly plotting to murder the emperor. The young princess also knew that if she misbehaved, she might be cast aside by Imperial Concubine Shen Xi. Thus, at such a young age, the Eldest Princess had already learned to watch people’s faces for their moods. She could never run and jump freely in the sunlight like the Second Prince or Lu Xuan.
The emperor suddenly thought of Imperial Concubine Cao Duan. She had been lively and cheerful, once saying that as a child she had been more mischievous than boys, even daring to climb trees behind the adults’ backs. If Cao Duan had not fallen into disgrace, if the Eldest Princess had grown up by her biological mother’s side, she would surely have become the brightest and most dazzling pearl of the Ming Dynasty.
But now, the Eldest Princess had become cautious and reserved, even her smile was timid and seeking approval. Sitting far above on the high platform, the emperor looked at her eyes, so identical to those of Imperial Concubine Cao Duan’s, and could almost picture Cao Duan’s radiant smile.
The sun shone brightly, and the garden was filled with the cheerful laughter of children. Imperial Concubine Shen Xi herself took the Eldest Princess by the hand to search for butterflies. Under the watchful company of her foster mother and the maids, the Eldest Princess finally gathered the courage to chase butterflies among the flowers.
But in her excitement, she didn’t watch where she was going and accidentally bumped into Empress Fang. The Empress stumbled slightly, and a nearby maid quickly steadied her. When the Eldest Princess looked up and realized she had run into the Empress, the smile instantly vanished from her face, and she quickly shrank back behind Imperial Concubine Shen Xi.
Imperial Concubine Shen Xi hurriedly brought the princess over to apologize, repeatedly asking for forgiveness. Though Empress Fang’s expression was displeased, she knew better than to punish imperial children harshly in front of the emperor. She merely reprimanded them briefly and then told Imperial Concubine Shen Xi to lead the princess away.
It was only a minor incident in the garden that didn’t draw much attention and soon quieted down. Lu Heng kept a close watch over the garden. He saw Lu Xuan catch a butterfly and proudly run over to show Wang Yanqing, and only then did he relax a little. He turned his gaze silently to the emperor.
The emperor also watched the garden thoughtfully, lost in his own musings.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the palace banquet came to an end, and the officials and their families took their leave one after another. Lu Xuan had tired himself out playing and fell asleep in Wang Yanqing’s arms on the way home. When their carriage arrived at the Lu Mansion’s second gate, Lu Heng dismounted and came forward to help. But instead, he found Wang Yanqing carrying Lu Xuan herself out of the carriage. Lu Heng frowned disapprovingly: “He’s already so big, and you’re still carrying him? Wake him up and have him walk on his own.”
Wang Yanqing glared at him irritably: “He just fell asleep. What kind of father are you? Move aside, you’re blocking the way.”
Lu Heng was speechless but, worried she might stumble, quickly took Lu Xuan from her arms and had a maid help Wang Yanqing down.
Separated from his mother’s soft embrace, Lu Xuan stirred uneasily, mumbling a few words before settling back to sleep against Lu Heng’s shoulder. Lu Heng glanced down at the little boy in his arms, thinking that even though the boy was so young, he already knew how to win his mother’s favor.
Although Lu Heng said to wake him up, he couldn’t bear to do it in the end. He carried Lu Xuan steadily all the way to the back courtyard. There, he gently laid Lu Xuan on the bed, took off his shoes, and pulled up the blanket. Wang Yanqing, watching anxiously from the side, couldn’t help but fuss: “Be gentle. Careful not to wake him.”
Lu Heng looked at his hand, which he had already moved as gently as possible, and sighed again in his heart.
After settling Lu Xuan, the couple returned to their room. They changed into comfortable home clothes and sat by the window to talk. Wang Yanqing asked: “Many people came today asking about Xuan’er. Especially the Senior Concubine, she was particularly eager. What do you think the emperor means by this?”
Lu Heng said: “The officials in court have been mentioning the matter of appointing an heir again. I think the emperor is seriously considering establishing a Crown Prince. Judging by the current situation, he is likely favoring the Second Prince.”
Wang Yanqing frowned: “Could it be that they want Xuan’er to be a reading companion for the Second Prince?”
Lu Heng immediately shook his head: “Absolutely not. The emperor has already appointed Xia Wenjin to tutor the Second Prince, so the Second Prince already has a Grand Tutor. There must not be another reading companion from the Lu family. The Imperial Guards are loyal to the emperor, but if we get too close to the Crown Prince, it might arouse the emperor’s suspicions.”
Lu Xuan’s name had been chosen by the emperor himself and the character for Xuan was interesting. It referred to a painting technique when applying ink and then washing it with water to create varying shades of light and dark. What did it mean that the emperor had given Lu Heng’s son such a name?
Lu Heng’s thoughts aligned with Wang Yanqing’s. She said: “I also believe we shouldn’t get too close to the Second Prince. Empress Fang still has no sons. Since there is no legitimate heir, the Second Prince holds the advantage according to the rites. There must be countless people scrambling to curry favor with Senior Concubine Wang. At the moment, she is like flowers brocaded with embroidery, oil poured on a blazing fire, her arrogance grows by the day. When she spoke to me today, her words were very earnest, but when I looked closer, I couldn’t see much true sincerity. If I’m not wrong, she wants to rope in the Lu family, but in her heart, she believes she is bestowing us a favor. She assumes that we would never refuse an alliance with the Crown Prince. Even if we were to throw our support behind her, she likely would not feel grateful.”
Lu Heng thought to himself that Wang Yanqing’s ability was almost like cheating. While others needed to analyze countless factors to reach a conclusion, Wang Yanqing simply looked at someone’s expression and got straight to the answer. He took her hand, answering sincerely: “Madam, your insight is invaluable. With you by my side, I can’t imagine how many disasters you’ve helped me avoid. Marrying you has been the greatest fortune of my life.”
“Enough of that now.” Wang Yanqing said, glancing at him playfully with a bright smile. Her eyes shone vividly, her glances lively and charming. She was still easily flustered, her expression as shy and innocent as a young girl.
Lu Heng smiled and let her chide him gently, but deep down, he truly meant every word. Nowadays, he still collected information and analyzed situations with his own logic, but before making any final decisions, he was accustomed to taking Wang Yanqing to meet key figures, letting her give the final judgment.
In this world, no matter how perfect the reasoning was, everything ultimately came down to understanding people. Even if all logic pointed to one conclusion, if the key person’s thoughts shifted, the final outcome could be completely different. By letting Wang Yanqing read their expressions, he could prepare ahead of time if the situation changed.
Since Wang Yanqing observed that Senior Concubine Wang carried arrogance in her heart, the Second Prince’s path was completely blocked. If even Imperial Concubine Wang believed she deserved Heng’s support, how could the Second Prince, raised by her, possibly treat the Lu family kindly in the future?
Lu Heng no longer hesitated and said: “Then tomorrow, I will speak to the emperor and explain that Lu Xuan and the Second Prince are too far apart in age, and it might hinder the Second Prince’s studies. Today, Lu Xuan seemed to get along fairly well with the Third Prince, we’ll have Lu Xuan become the reading companion for the Third Prince instead.”
That Lu Heng would reject aligning with the Crown Prince was expected by Wang Yanqing, but the fact that he chose the Third Prince still surprised her. She asked: “Why the Third Prince? Imperial Concubine Du Kang is competitive, calculating, and a bit harsh in temperament. From the emperor’s attitude today, he seemed least attentive toward the Third Prince among his sons. Even if we want to avoid being seen as favoring the Eastern Palace, the Third Prince has no remarkable talents, why choose him?”
“Precisely because Imperial Concubine Du Kang and her son are out of favor.” Lu Heng replied. “The emperor dislikes personalities like Du Kang’s, and the Third Prince receives little favor by association. If I send Lu Xuan to be the Third Prince’s companion reader, it will make it clear to the emperor that the Lu family has no hidden ambitions regarding the succession.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Yanqing thought it made sense. In his youth, the emperor had been physically frail, but recently, he had grown increasingly stable, rarely falling ill throughout the year. The matter of a prince ascending the throne was still likely twenty years away, and until then, everyone depended entirely on the emperor’s favor.
The Lu family’s foundation was built upon their role in the Grand Rites Controversy, and today, Lu Heng’s core power remained in the Imperial Guards. Their survival and prosperity ultimately depended on the emperor.
With the matter of the reading companion settled, Wang Yanqing finally felt relieved. For the past two years, she had carried a heavy weight in her heart because of Lu Xuan, never able to truly relax no matter what she did. Now she could let go of her worries. Once the move was made, there would be no regret, they would have to follow this path with the Third Prince to the end.
Seeing the shadows lift from Wang Yanqing’s brow, Lu Heng felt a pang of guilt. He drew her into his arms and said: “I’ve made you worry these past two years. It’s my fault.”
Wang Yanqing leaned against his broad, steady shoulder and lightly tapped his arm with a smile: “Wasn’t I just worrying about my own family? What’s wrong with that?”
Lu Heng chuckled at her words and willingly bowed his head in apology: “I spoke wrongly. Madam, please don’t hold a grudge against your humble servant.”
With his wife resting in his arms and his son sleeping nearby, Lu Heng felt a deep sense of peace and contentment, a feeling of completeness. For some reason, he recalled the look in the emperor’s eyes when he had watched the Eldest Princess earlier today. He said: “I’ve come to realize, it’s better to confront problems head-on when they arise, even if it causes a big scene, than to keep covering them up.”
“What do you mean?”
Lu Heng shook his head, unwilling to speak too much about the matters of the harem: “Just something I was thinking about.”
If Imperial Concubine Cao Duan were still alive, perhaps she wouldn’t have remained in favor forever. But because she had died, at the height of her youth and favor, she became an eternal thorn lodged deep in the emperor’s heart, piercing deeper and more painfully with time.
Only the dead remained flawless.
Lu Heng was especially grateful that back then. When Wang Yanqing discovered he had deceived her, they had fought fiercely and ripped the matter open, resolving it thoroughly before consummating their marriage. Had they chosen to evade the issue, allowing the wound to fester in the shadows, then no matter if she bore his children, resentment would have still grown between them.
Lu Heng tightened his embrace around Wang Yanqing and dropped a light kiss on the top of her head: “Sometimes I really feel that I’m extraordinarily lucky.”
Thinking about his life’s path, Wang Yanqing couldn’t help but tease: “To be accurate, you’ve always been very lucky.”
Lu Heng laughed, sliding his hand from her shoulder down her back and resting it suggestively at her waist. He hinted meaningfully: “And what about now?”
Wang Yanqing glanced sideways, pretending not to hear him, but the blush creeping up her cheeks gave her away. Lu Heng slid his hand to the back of her knees, and she naturally and willingly wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering breathlessly: “Let’s go inside.”
Lu Heng’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, and he agreed, very gentlemanly.
But of course, he had no intention of being a gentleman.
In the fifth month, the days grew longer. At dusk, though the sun had set, the sky was still bright enough to see clearly. Outside, sounds of maids and attendants moving about could be heard. Lu Xuan’s nursemaid came to ask when he should be fed dinner.
It was already his usual mealtime, but since the young master was asleep, the maid couldn’t decide on her own and came to the main courtyard to seek instruction. The handmaid on duty told her to prepare some easy-to-digest food and keep it warm, ready for when Lu Xuan woke up. The nursemaid agreed and glanced toward the open doors of the main hall. It was quiet and still inside, the grand receiving room was brightly lit but seemingly empty.
Thinking that the Supreme Commander and Madam must not be inside, the nursemaid accepted the order and returned to keep watch over Lu Xuan.
There were precious red sandalwood seats in the middle of the hall, surrounded by paintings and calligraphy, flowerpots, creating an elegant atmosphere. To the east of the main hall lay a floor cover, with exquisite carvings and simple patterns, separating the main hall from the living place. Behind the carved partition hung heavy curtains of deep crimson velvet, thick, opulent drapes meant to block out light when drawn. Normally, they were tucked away in the corners, only pulled shut when the master retired to bed. But now, amidst the straight, cascading folds of fabric, there came a strange, muffled sound.
Behind the curtain, Wang Yanqing leaned silently against the screen, concealed by the heavy fabric. The main hall’s doors stood wide open just beyond them. The nursemaid had come to ask for instructions about their son’s care, yet here she was, the child’s mother, pinned behind the partition with her clothes pooled at her feet, utterly exposed. Despite hearing the nursemaid outside, she dared not make a sound, not even the slightest movement, for fear of being discovered.
If anyone stepped past the threshold and took even two steps toward the inner chamber, they’d immediately notice something amiss behind the drapes.
Wang Yanqing’s lips were bitten bloody, but Lu Heng refused to relent, driving her to the edge with deliberate, merciless precision. One of her legs was hooked over his shoulder, the other barely touching the ground, toes straining for purchase. The line of her legs was astonishing, long, taut, and perfectly straight. Lu Heng traced the lean curve of her thigh with dark admiration: “I’ve always thought bending your leg past the knee wasn’t possible. Yet here you are, lifting your legs so high. You are unbelievably flexible.”
Wang Yanqing, struggling between embarrassment and urgency, tried to hurry him along in a hushed, pleading voice: “Hurry.”
Lu Heng raised a brow, glancing down at her with a deepening smirk: “Qing Qing, do you want me to go faster?”
Being urged to hurry up in a place like this, no man would take that well. Wang Yanqing was nearly frantic. Realizing pleading wouldn’t help, she gritted her teeth, tightening her core, trying to speed things along herself.
Her legs were already taut in this position, yet she still dared to fidget. Lu Heng let out a slow breath, watching her before chuckling: “Fine.”
Suddenly, he gripped her waist and lifted her. Her toes left the ground as she clung to him in panic: “No. Someone might see…”
She thought he meant to carry her out, but instead, her back met the carved partition again, her legs now hooked over his arms. Pressed flush against him, Lu Heng lowered his voice beside her ear: “You’ve grown bold lately. Daring to play tricks on me?”
Her eyes glistened, red-tinged and pleading, as she held onto him helplessly: “Husband…”
Against the deep crimson drapes, her fair skin and that look in her eyes were too much. Lu Heng lost control of his strength, the wooden shelf beside them rattled, and a vase crashed to the floor.
Wang Yanqing froze. Lu Heng’s grip on her waist tightened reflexively. Miraculously, no one came in. She exhaled in shaky relief and smacked his chest in reproach. Lu Heng relented, wrapping her in a curtain before carrying her to the inner chamber.
He stripped her bare yet remained fully dressed. Once on the bed, she glared at him and kicked out in frustration.
Catching her slender ankle, he lifted her leg with ease: “Be good. We’ll talk later.”
His idea of later stretched well into the night. After Wang Yanqing finished bathing and changed into her inner clothes, it was already the middle of the night.
When she got into bed, she turned her back to Lu Heng, cold-faced and ignoring him, even insisting on sleeping under a separate blanket. At times like this, Lu Heng had no shame. He would hug her from behind, wrapping both her and the blanket into his arms, coaxing her softly and gently, and slowly pulling the extra blanket away when she was off guard.
By the time Wang Yanqing realized it, she was already pressed closely against him again.
Fuming, Wang Yanqing fell asleep, cursing the scoundrel even in her dreams. Perhaps because of her lingering anger, she slept restlessly. In the middle of the night, she suddenly woke up to find no one behind her.
Startled, she instinctively reached out to touch the bedding beside her and only relaxed when she felt the lingering warmth. Throwing on a robe, Wang Yanqing got out of bed. Just as she stepped out of the bedroom, Lu Heng returned.
He hadn’t lit a lamp and came back in the dim moonlight. Seeing it was her, he quickly walked over and caught her in his arms, asking in a low voice: “Did I wake you?”
“No, I just suddenly wanted some water.”
Lu Heng lit a nearby lamp and poured her a cup of water. In truth, drinking water was just an excuse. Wang Yanqing sipped slowly and used the act of holding the cup to secretly observe him.
She asked: “What’s wrong?”
Lu Heng sighed and suddenly leaned over to embrace her tightly: “There’s news from the palace, the Western Palace caught fire.”
“And the emperor…?”
“There are many lakes near the Western Palace. The emperor is unharmed.”
Wang Yanqing felt relieved: “Then it was just a false alarm.”
But Lu Heng remained silent for a long time. Resting his head against the hollow of her neck, he said: “Not exactly. The fire spread to Empress Fang’s bedroom. She was trapped in the blaze, and the halls of the Western Palace were locked. She wasn’t rescued.”
Wang Yanqing listened, her eyes widening. Every night, the palace gates were routinely locked, and anyone unneeded would leave the palace. But the eunuchs on night watch always carried spare keys.
With such a serious fire in the Empress’s chambers, why hadn’t anyone unlocked the doors in time?
Wang Yanqing fell silent for a long while, then whispered, barely audibly: “Did the emperor know?”
“He did.” Lu Heng replied, also speaking in a voice so soft only the two of them could hear. “He ordered the Western Palace gates shut and forbade anyone from putting out the fire.”
Wang Yanqing was completely speechless.
Lu Heng knew that many coincidences had collided together. Today was the Dragon Boat Festival, and seeing the eldest princess made the emperor melancholy. The princess happened to run into Empress Fang, whose instinctive disdain had provoked the emperor’s anger. Then tonight’s fire broke out, trapping the Empress, and at the height of his fury, the emperor ordered no one to rescue her.
Perhaps, after some time, when the emperor’s anger faded, he would regret not saving Empress Fang. After all, she had once truly saved his life. But fate was cruelly absurd, coincidences that normally would have been rare, all lined up tonight.
Neither Wang Yanqing nor Lu Heng spoke again. Wang Yanqing put down the cup, and the two silently returned to bed. After lying down, Lu Heng pulled Wang Yanqing tightly into his arms. This time, she didn’t push him away.
They slept in each other’s arms until dawn.
The next day, the news of Empress Fang’s death spread. It was said that during the Dragon Boat Festival celebrations, a ceremonial candle had accidentally set fire to the palace, and there had been no time to extinguish it, leading to the Empress’ death. The notion that a nation’s Empress could die in a fire was shocking, yet after experiencing the devastation of last night’s fire, the inner palace was shrouded in silence, no one dared speak of it.
Three days later, a decree was issued from the Western Court: “The Empress once saved the emperor in times of peril, therefore, she shall be buried with honor of a first Empress.”
The emperor posthumously granted Empress Fang the title of the Filial and Heroic Empress, issued an edict to the entire empire, and personally planned her funeral rites. He even intended for her ancestral tablet to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
The officials in the Ministry of Rites argued that this was against tradition. Empress Fang was the second empress, and only the first Empress should be enshrined in the Ancestral Temple. Her tablet should be placed instead in a side chamber of the Hall of Ancestors. However, the emperor was determined. Despite repeated attempts by the Cabinet and the Ministry of Rites to dissuade him, he refused to change his mind. In the end, they had no choice but to temporarily set the matter aside.
The death of Empress Fang seemed to have solidified some kind of decision in the emperor’s mind. After the mourning period ended, the emperor promoted all the concubines in the harem who had born children. Senior Concubine Wang was promoted to Imperial Noble Concubine, Imperial Concubine Shen Xi was promoted to Senior Concubine, while Imperial Concubines Du Kang and Lu Jing remained at the rank of Imperial Concubines, but their monthly stipends were raised to the level of a Senior Concubine.
Most of the women in the inner palace were overjoyed, except for Senior Concubine Wang. She believed that this time, she would finally be crowned Empress. Instead, she was only granted the title of Imperial Noble Concubine, leaving her deeply disappointed.
The court officials believed the emperor was moved by sorrow after Empress Fang’s burial and so had chosen to generously reward the concubines. But Lu Heng knew that wasn’t the real reason. The promotions were merely a prelude, the emperor had a much greater plan.
And Lu Heng also understood, from now on, there would be no new empress.
The emperor had buried three empresses in succession. His original empress, Lady Chen, died from a hemorrhage after the miscarriage. His second empress, Lady Zhang, died from depression after being demoted. His third empress, Lady Fang, dignified, virtuous, and even credited with saving his life, appeared to have done nothing wrong, yet still died in a fire.
It was as if the title of empress itself seemed to be cursed. The emperor realized that perhaps leaving the empress’s seat vacant was the best solution.
Sure enough, after promoting the concubines, the emperor swiftly issued edicts to title all three princes. The Second Prince was made Crown Prince. The Third Prince was granted the title, Prince of Yu. The Fourth Prince was granted the title, Prince of Jing. Three imperial decrees were delivered to the harem at once, and the matter of selecting an heir, a subject of speculation among the court for many years, was finally settled.
When the news broke, most were unsurprised. The emperor had long shown favor toward the Second Prince, even appointing Xia Wenjin as his tutor, a clear sign of his intentions. Privately, many mocked Lu Heng for refusing the offer to have his son serve as a study companion to the Second Prince. Now, they scoffed, Lu Heng had just aligned himself with the Third Prince, only for the Second Prince to be named Crown Prince.
Despite their jeering, the court officials secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out Lu Heng wasn’t infallible after all, there were times even he was wrong.
While the capital was still abuzz over the appointment of the Crown Prince, urgent news suddenly arrived from the frontlines. The Mongols had begun raiding the borders, and the situation in the northwest was growing serious.